South Beach Comedy Festival

From Jan 21st through 23rd, 2010.

The Fifth Annual South Beach Comedy Festival returns to Miami Beach Thursday, January 21st to Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 for another laugh-filled extravaganza featuring some of the world’s funniest entertainers. This year’s event features Aziz Ansari, Mike Birbiglia, Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias, Jon Lajoie, Brian Regan, Joe Rogan, Mad Cat Theatre Company’s “Shepherd’s Pie” with more announcements to come. General On-Sale begins on Saturday, December 5th 10:00 a.m.

Comedy Central returns as the national media partner and for the first time Live Nation will be the sole producers of the Festival handling all marketing, PR, talent booking and production. Also Comedy Central and Live Nation welcome back sponsors Kia Motors (4th year) and Taco Bell (5th year) as well as The Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority, The Miami Herald, and the City of Miami Beach who have supported the Festival for five years.

Once again the Festival will utilize four main locations to highlight its exciting variety of talent. Acts will perform at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, Colony Theater and the Lincoln Road Stage at Euclid Avenue, which is home to the Festival’s outdoor, nightly, free comedy stage. And for the first time, special shows and official events will be held at some of South Beach’s hottest clubs.                                              

The Festival begins as Miami Light Project and South Beach Comedy Festival Present Mad Cat Theatre Company’s “Shepherd’s Pie” on Wednesday, January 20th, 7:30 p.m. at the Colony Theater. Founded by Paul Tei in 2000, Miami’s Mad Cat Theatre Company is committed to creating an outlet for young people looking for an alternative to the numbing of clubbing, bad blockbuster movies and your mom and dad’s tired old theatre. Paul Tei and Ivonne Azurdia’s Shepherd’s Pie tells the scoundrel rich, sheep conversing, and religious converting history of dear Saint Paddy and Ireland with rhyme and laughs like only Mad Cat’s all star cast can!

Mike Birbiglia performs Thursday, January 21st, 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre, 541 Lincoln Road. In his career of 11 years, Mike Birbiglia has released two critically acclaimed albums and three Comedy Central specials. The Boston Globe called Mike’s storytelling “as honest as any Richard Pryor confession, and as engaging and inclusive as an old Bill Cosby record.”

Gabriel Iglesias performs Thursday, January 21st, 8:00 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach. Gabriel Iglesias has been described as unbelievably funny, electrifying, and a gifted performer who has the ability to consistently deliver a quality comedy experience. His high-octane show is a hilarious mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects that bring all his personal issues to life.

Kevin Hart performs Friday, January 22nd, 8:00 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach. Kevin Hart has burst onto the scene as one of the most versatile comedy actors in film and television. His biggest break came when he landed the lead in MGM’s Soul Plane opposite Tom Arnold, Method Man and Snoop Doog. Hart’s recent film credits include Drillbit Taylor, Epic Movie, The Last Stand, Scary Movie 4, In the Mix and The 40 Year Old Virgin.

Jon Lajoie performs two shows Friday, January 22nd, 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. at the Colony Theater. Canadian comedian and actor Jon Lajoie is one of the few talents who has been able to manifest the cult following for his Internet videos into a mainstream audience, placing him in a preeminent spot in the comedy landscape. Despite some crude subject matter, his surprisingly intelligent lyrics and well-crafted songs chronicle everything from boring everyday activities to genitals and getting high. His videos have over 200 million aggregate views on YouTube and the web.

Joe Rogan performs Friday, January 22nd, 8:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre. As a standup comedian for nearly 20 years Joe Rogan has honed an inquisitive and intense comedic style. He exudes a mad joy for life in all its insanity and revels in the art of standup comedy to explore the world with raw honesty. This has made him a national headliner, a favorite performer at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He was the host of the hugely successful reality show, “Fear Factor,” for six seasons on NBC and has provided color commentary for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Pay Per View and Spike Television and also hosts the syndicated show, “UFC Wired.”

Brian Regan makes his South Florida headlining debut Saturday, January 23rd, 7:00 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Avenue. Brian Regan has distinguished himself as one of the premier comedians in the country. He posses the perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality. Brian’s non-stop theater tour has visited more than 80 cities each year since 2005. It is the quality of his material, relatable to a wide audience and revered by his peers, which continues to grow Brian’s fan base.

Aziz Ansari performs two shows Saturday, January 23rd 7:30 and 10:30 PM at the Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road. Aziz Ansari is having a breakout year starring in a popular television series, a number of films and debuting his first hour-long standup special and album. Entertainment Weekly named him one of the top 12 future stars of comedy and LA Weekly put him on the cover of their annual People Issue. Ansari currently co-stars opposite SNL’s Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones in the NBC Comedy Series, “Parks & Recreation” from the producers and creators of “The Office.”

South Beach Comedy Festival
877.598.8698
www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com